Leinen earned a bachelor"s degree in geology from the University of Illinois in 1969, a master"s in geological oceanography from Oregon State University in 1975, and her doctorate in oceanography in 1980 from the University of Rhode Island, receiving Distinguished Alumni Awards from all three universities.
Leinen"s research interests are paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, biogeochemical cycles, and climate change. She was previously the Vice Provost for Marine and Environmental Programs and Dean of the Graduate School of Oceanography at the University of Rhode Island. Assistant Director for Geosciences and Coordinator of Environmental Research and at the National Science Foundation, President of the Climate Response Fund.
And, Vice Provost for Marine and Environmental Initiatives and executive director of the Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute of Florida Atlantic University.
American Academy of Arts and Sciences]
She is president of the American Geophysical Union Board of Directors. A member of the Board of the National Council for Science and the Environment. A member of the distinguished Leadership Council of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative.
And past president of The Oceanography Society.
